Zerihun WolduGirma Gudesho2025-08-172025-08-172024-12https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/6942The objectives of the study was to assess vegetation diversity, structure, composition, community type, and regeneration status in relation to land use and land cover changes in the Wombera district. The district has three agroecologies: higher, middle, and lower. For the whole study, six forest patches were selected. At higher altitudes, three forest parts were classified according to their succession stage: climax, intermediate, and pioneer. Depending on the intensity, frequency, and severity of disturbances, each succession class was divided into intact, disturbed, and highly disturbed forest patch parts. Data was collected using stratified systematic sampling procedures. Along altitudinal gradients, transect lines were laid every 300 m, and plots were laid every 150 m along transect lines. One hundred forty-two nested sampling plots (20 × 20 meters each) in six forest areas were used to collect vegetation and environmental data. In the main quadrates (20×20), trees with stem diameter at breast height (DBH) >2.5 cm and shrubs at diameter stump height (DSH) were collected. Landscape variables and disturbance factors were also ranked and recorded. In five (5 m × 5 m) quadrants nested in the larger quadrats, seedlings and saplings were recorded. In 5 (1 × 1 m) quadrates nested in the 5 × 5 m quadrates, herbs and grass species were recorded. For LULCC analysis, satellite images from EGII and USAG were obtained, including Landsat Mss 1973, Landsat TM 1985, Landsat ETM+2000, and Landsat OLI/TIRS 2016.In six forest patches interview were held with FGD confirmed by KII, five direct and six indirect driving forces were identified, and their impacts were evaluated. The regeneration potential and use values of woody plants were assessed and ranked. The species frequency, density, and structure of the forest patches were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools. Floristic diversity and evenness were computed using Shannon diversity and evenness indices, respectively. The similarities between forest patches and plant communities were computed using Sorenson‘s similarity index. A nested ANOVA and regression model in R were used to compute the diversity and abundance of plants along succession and disturbance gradients. The R package (version 3.4.3) was used for the classification of the plant community types (clusters) and vegetation-environment relationships (ordinations). ERDAS version 15 and ArcGIS 10.3.1 were used for satellite image calibration and analysis. A total of 375 species, representing 90 families and 70 genera, were recorded from 142 plots and outside nearby plots in six forest patches. 314 species were recorded in plots, and 61 species were recorded outside the plots. Plant species diversity and richness significantly varied along the succession gradient (pioneer, intermediate, and climax) and disturbance gradients (intact, moderately disturbed, and highly disturbed).In Lower and middle-layer canopy tree abundances decline along the succession gradient. Upper canopy tree abundance increases along successional gradients. The highest IVI was found in the upper canopy trees of climax forests, followed by intermediate and pioneer forests, respectively. Seven major LULCC types were identified: forest, woodland (highest), scrub/bushland, grassland/rangeland, farmland, water bodies, and settlements. Six community types: Community I, Community II, Community II Community VI, community V, and Community VI were identified. The vegetation structure is determined by fire and altitudinal gradients. The result of LULCCS revealed an expansion of agriculture/settlement and a reduction of woodland and forest over the last 40 years, from 1973 to 2016. In the early 1970s, indirect driving forces: sociocultural practices and population growth contributed the most and had the highest impact. Among the direct or proximate causes, farming activity and fire had the highest impact in 1970 in the lower and middle altitudes. Thus, further studies should conducted that include soil nutrient analysis and vegetation modeling along successiona and disturbance gradients.LULCC should be done by using the latest satellite image version.en-USLULCCSVegetationsDisturbance GradientsSpecies DiversityAge GradientsForest PatchesDirect Driving ForcesIndirect Deriving ForceThesis